Electrical precipitator



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ELECTRICAL PRECIPITATOR Filed April 12, 1927 11 Sheets-Sheet '11 Patented Feb. 3, 1931 UNITED STATES-PATENT OFF-ICE HARRY A. WINTER-MUTE. OF PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO RESEARCH CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK ELECTRICAL PRECIPITATOR Application filed April 12, 1927. Serial No. 1ss,1aa.

This invention relates to the separation of suspended material from gasesby passing them between discharge and collecting electrodes which are maintained at high electrical potential difierence, in such manner that the suspended material carried by the gases is deposited or collected to a greater or less extent on such electrodes. 1

One object of my invention is to provide a path for the gases having pockets or dead areas wherein the particles precipitated from the suspended material are collected and can fall to the collecting bin without becoming resuspended in the gas.

An other object is to provide quiet or dead zones adjacent the collecting electrodes whereby light or fluffy materials or materials in which there is slight cohesion between individual particles may be collected and dropped to the collecting bin without being re-suspended and thus carried forward by the gas flow.

Another object is to provide such pockets by means of baffles mounted adjacent the collecting electrodes and providing scrapers to remove the accumulated particles from the pockets.

A further object is to make such .baflles movable so that they may be used as scrapers or that scraping means may pass between them and the collecting electrodes to remove accumulated dust particles.

A further object is to provide baflies spaced from the electrodes so that scraping means may pass between them and the electrode.

A further object is to provide baflles of a simple construction which are'easy to install in existing precipitators and also for application to precipitators of the concrete plate type.

showing in top plan .view, two forms of precipitator constructions including quiet zones for the deposition of precipitated matter.

These and other objects will be apparent from the following description taken in con- Fig. 3 is a side view in section of a precipi-' ilar to Fig. 1, with scraping means therer with;

Fig. 6 is another top plan showing combined fixed and movable bafiles;

Fig. 7 is a similar view of a modification.

Fig. 8 is a top plan of'a modification in which means are shown for moving the bafiles.

Fig. 9 is a detail in elevation of Fig. 8 showing the means for moving the bailies away from the collecting electrodes.

Fig. 10 is a similar view with the bafiles moved to the cleaning position.-

Fig'. 11 shows a modification wherein the baflles are permanently spaced from the collecting electrodes;

Fig. 12 shows fixed baflies with loops in the scraper chains around the same.

a Fig. 13 shows a vertical section of one precipitator section wherein the baffles are movable to thereby act as scrapers.

Fig. 14 is a horizontal section on line 14.-14 of Fig. 13. t

Fig. 15 shows the moving means for the baflies shown in Figs. 13 and 14.

Fig. 16 shows in section an arrangement combining fixed and movable baifles.

Fig. 17 is a vertical section of a modified form of baflles which are rotatable and Fig. 18 is a detail thereof.

In carrying out my invention I employ baffles located on the collecting electrodes, the use of such baflies being described in U. 8. Patent No. 1,343,482 to Schmidt and Roberts, patented June 15, 1920.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, there are shown collecting electrodes 1, between which the discharge electrodes 2 are placed. The baflles are indicated at 3. It will be noted that in Fig. 1 the bafiles are placed opposite one another on the electrodes and the discharge electrode between them is omitted. The suspended material is then precipitated on the collecting electrodes and shielded in the areas, as indicated by numeral 4, from the gas flow, as indicated by the arrow.

By an arrangement of bafiies in Fig. 1,

quiet zones are provided adjacent the collecting electrodes within which the material colects. out to a suflicient depth, it loosens by its own weight from the electrodes and falls to a collecting bin but remaining within the quiet zone between bafiles. To accomplish this result the sides of the pockets are extended sufficiently, in addition to the distance the dust builds out, to furnish itcomplete protection. The areas designated by numeral 4 are the total protected zone, consisting of the portion built out with precipitate and that necessary to furnish protection to the falling dust. The falling material is not, therefore, disintegrated and ire-suspended in the mov 1ng gases.

The depth of pockets and their spacing is influenced somewhat by the character of the precipitate, some materials building out to a greater depth before falling than others. The volume of gas that can be treated also depends uponthe depth and spacing of the pockets. It has been found by actual experi-,

ment that higher recoveries can be secured when the pockets are deep and the sides relatively close together. In tests conducted on one type of precipitate, the pockets were two inches deep and eighteen inches ,wide. The dust built out on an average of one half inch before dropping. As can readily be seen,

\ (1516i? zones are relatively more effective where t e plates are very high than where they are low.

It has also been found advantageous to extend the quiet zones provided by the baffles well down below the lowest point of gas movement, when the battles are arranged vertically. Otherwise the precipitated matter which has been loosened from the collecting electrodes by reason of it's own weight or by mechanical scraping will be picked up by the moving gases and carried on out of the precipitator. One way to extend the quiet zones is to have the vertical baffles extend down below the normal path of movement of the gases, even extending down into the receiving hopper for the precipitate in some cases,

By the arrangement of Fig. 2, wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts,

the baflles are arranged in staggered relation on opposite electrodes. The gas therefore has a sweeping effect, from one collecting electrode to the other, and the desired protec tion is lost.

In Figs. 3 and 4, there is shown a complete precipitator unit. The outer shell 5 has the inlet 6 for the gas and the outlet 7. The discharge electrodes 8 are carried by the high tension frame 9 between collecting electrodes 10. As will be seen from Fig. 4, certain of the discharge electrodes have been omitted and baflies placed on thecollecting electrodes similar to the arrangement of Fig. 1.

When this collected mate-rial builds- '1,7a1,sss

Due to a relatively slow building up of a permanent hard precipitate between baflles which will not break loose and fall, as does the bulk of the precipitate, it is necessary to remove this deposit from time to time, thus preventing the formation of high spots on which a corona discharge might concentrate. When such concentration takes place, there are large areas where the corona discharge is very low. Such conditions give very low recoveries of suspended material. Due to this condition, it is necessary to remove this hard precipitate in order to maintain an even corona discharge and so secure a high percentage of recovery. Scraping the collecting electrodes has been found to ,be an effective method of removing the hard precipitate, and for this purpose, various means are provided in this invention.

Referring again to Figs. 3 and 4, the baffles themselves are used as scraping means. In this modification, a combination of fixed and movable or scraping baflles are used. Near the entrance end 6 and exit end 7 each collecting electrode carries a stationary baffle 11. About midway of the electrode, another set of stationary bafiies 12 are shown, which are here shown as circular in cross-section though other shapes may be used. Arranged across the top of the unit is a deflecting plate or bafiie 13. Movable bafi'ies 14 are supported on chains 15 from a frame 16, the chains having weights 16 thereon. These bafiies are here shown as triangular in cross-section, though other shapes may be used. The frame 16 is capable of being reciprocated to thereby move the movable bafiles back and forth between the stationary baflies, whereby the collected hard precipitate may be scraped free of the electrode when cleaning is required. Frame 16 rests on and is supported by rigid supporting members 17, carried by the precipitator shell 5. Sprocket wheels 18 supported on shafts 19 en age chains 20, which chains are attached to rame 16 at one of their ends and carry weights 21 at their loosen the hard precipitate which can then a fall to the hopper below. It will be noted I that the falling materials dro to the hopper through a quiet zone where t 1e gas velocity is ver low and thus there will be very slight inter erence. It will be clear therefore that falling of the precipitate takes place without In'Fig. 5, there is shown another method of cleaning the electrodes. In this figure, the

collecting electrodes are marked 22, the'di scharge electrodes 23 and the stationary baffles 24. These baflies are fixed to the collegting electrodes and auxiliary means are provided for cleaning the plates, consisting of chains 25 resting agalnst the electrodes and normally positioned as shown in Fig. 5.

These chains may be carried by a framesimilar to the baffle carrying frame 16 of Figs. 3 and 4, whereby the chains may bemoved to scrape the electrodes between bafiies, there bein one chain between adjacent stationary ba es.

In Figs. 6 and 7, various forms of baflles and arrangements thereof are shown.. The discharge electrodes 26 are positioned between the collecting electrodes 27. In Fig.

6, each collectingelectrode carries alternate stationaryand movable battles the stationary bafllcs being designated 28, and the movable ones 29. The movable battles are supported by chains from any suitable movable frame, such as frame 16 .in Figs. 3 and 4.

In Fig. 7, stationary baflies 28 are placed at the ends of the collecting electrodes and all the intervening bafiles 29 are movable by chains 30. In these figures the movable baflles are shown as having different crosssections. It will be understood that the inv-ention is not limited, to these shapes but other forms may be used.

Referring to Fig. 8, which is a section looking down into a precipitator unit of the horizontal flow type, numeral 31 indicates the shell, 32 and 33 the inlet and exit for gases. The discharge electrodes as shown in Figs. 9 and 10 are suspended from the frame 34 between the collecting plates 35.

In this modification, there isprovided a set of baflies which may be moved from their normal position against the collecting electrodes to a separated position, thus leaving aspace between them and the plates, to allow cleaning or scraping means to pass back of the baflies. To this end, the collecting electrodes each have a stationary baflie 36 at each end, and movable baffies 37 suspended from overhead bars 38. Each collecting electrode has two bars 38 with their depending bafiles 37 one on each side thereof, except the two end collecting electrodes, where only the. inner bar and baflles are provided. Bars 38 project beyond the ends of collecting electrodes and are connected to and carried by supporting rods 39. These supandthose which are tomove in the opposite direction are connected to the other'support 39. By these connections, the baflles 37 may the unit shell by members'40, so that both ends will move'in unison. For moving bars 39, handles 41 are pivoted to shell 31 at 42 and connected to bars 39 at 43. By simply moving the handles in opposite directions from the position shown in Fig. 9 to that of Fig. 10, the bafiles will be moved to cleaning position.

' The lower ends of the baflles may be weighted as shown in Fig. 3 or they may be also rigidly connected together by a frame similar to that used at'the upper end. ferring to Figs. 9 and 10, the cleaning chains 44 are suspended from a carrier 45, which may be similar to that shown in Fig. 3, whereby these chains may be scraped along both faces of the collecting electrodes when the baflies are moved out.

In Fig. 11, there is shown a precipitator scraping chain or other cleaning means may pass between the bafiies and plate to break up any hard precipitate. These small openings back of the baflles are quickly sealed in use by the precipitated material, so that no leakage. can occur back of the bafiies. In this figure I have shown the cleaning chains 52 as carried by the same carrier which supports the baflles,but it will be clear that separate supporting means for the cleaning chains is within the purview of this invention. The cleaning chains or wires or rods are held taut by weights 53 at their lower ends, and weights 54 hold the discharge electrodes. I

In Fig. 12, there is shown one application of the invention to a vertical flow precipitator. In this figure, the collecting electrode 55 has the baflles 56 mounted thereon. Thev cleaning chains 57 have 100 s 58 therein which pass around the ba es, when the chains are moved horizontally. By replac- Re- I ing the chains 57 with stifi' members, this scheme of cleaning can be 'applied to a horizontal flow precipitator. By attaching lift- 111g means'similar to that shown on Fig. 13 and Fig. 15, tothe end loops,'the motion necessary for moving the scrapers can be secured.

Fig. 13 illustrates another type of vertical flow precipitator. The precipitator shell 59 has inlet 60 and outlet 61 forthe-gas and hopper 62 for the precipitate. Suspended between the collecting electrodes 63 are the discharge electrodes 64. Baflies 65 are suspended from a carrier 66 by rods 67 These baflles extend on all four sides of the rectangular openings defined by the collecting electrodes,as is clear from Fig. 14. In order 'to hold the rods and bafiies tight against the collecting electrodes, weights 68 are attached to the lower ends of the rods. Movement of the baflles for scraping the plates is accomplished by providing upright racks 69 attached to the "carrier 66 and having engagement with pinions 70. There are four racks 6.9, one at each corner of carrier 66, as illustrated in Fig. 15. Fig. 15 shows that four pinions are adapted for simultaneous rotation by a chain and gear connection 71 between common shafts 72, gears being provided to mesh with gears 7 O at the right side of Figs. 14 and15 to give the same direction of movement to racks 69. Any suitable mechanism may be used to rotate gears 70 or 70. It will be clear therefore that all the bafiies may be raised and lowered as a unit to thereby break loose the hard precipitate.

In Fig. 16 there are illustrated combined movable and stationary baflies, which have been added to precipitators which did not have this improvement. The collecting electrodes are designated by numeral 73, and the discharge electrodes 74. Stationary end baflies 75 are mounted on the collecting plates and an intermediate stationary bafiie 76.

Midway between stationary baflies 75 and 76,

the movable baflies 77 are mounted for scraping motion between the stationary baffles,

thus cleaning the plates. The bafiles thus added to an existing structure are placed on opposite sides of a discharge electrode which is then removed, thus making a saving in high tension equipment. Y

In Figs. 17 and 18 there is shown another form of movable bafile. In these views, the high tension discharge electrode 78 is s11 spended between collecting electrodes 79 in the usual manner. Mounted closely adjacent the collecting electrodes are baflies 80, which are rotatably supported above and'below the collecting electrodes by means of supports 81 and 82. These baflies have a circular crosssection, with a notch cut therein, as clearly seen from Fig. 18this notch extending their full length. Cleaning phains are shown by reference numeral 83. Inusethe cleaning chains 'are positioned at one end of the plates and the notches in the. baflles are all faced toward the chain. The reci itate ,soon buildsup and prevents lea age ack of the baflles, the opening being very small. In

fact, it is perfectly feasible to allow the bafiles to touch the plates, thus completely closing this opening. When it is necessary to clean the plates, the chains are drag ed across them and enter each notch of the baes as seen in Fig. 18,-and rotate the baflie thus breaking loose the precipitate. A double mode of cleaning is thus obtained, since the chains act as scrapers and the bafiiesthemselves break loose the precipitate by their rotation. The baflies will automatically face their notches toward the chains (see the lower baflles of Fig. 18)

In all of the modifications shown, it will be clear that a hopper is provided for collecting the precipitate which is loosened from the plates and falls, such as shown in Figs. 3, 11 and 13.

It will be understood that the modifications shown are by way of illustration only and not by way of limitation, and the invention is limited only as set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In an electrical precipitator,thecombination .with discharge electrodes, collecting elec trodes, and stationary bafilespositioned adj acent the collecting electrodes, of additional baflies and means movably supporting said additional bafiles adjacent to said collecting electrodes.

2. In an electrical precipitator, thecombination with a collecting electrode, of baflies mounted adjacent to said collectingelectrode,

and means for moving said baflies over substantially the full collecting area of said collecting electrodes to remove precipitated material adhering thereto.

3. In an electrical precipitator, the combination with a casing, discharge electrodes and imperforate collecting electrodes within said casing, bafiles positioned adjacent to said collecting electrodes to obstruct the gas stream, and a hopper at the lower end of said casing, said baflles providing'a series of quiet zones extending the full height of said collecting electrodes and terminating adjacent said hopper, of means for scraping the col- 4 wherein the movable to cause nation, discharge electrodes, collecting elec-" the electrodes trodes, and movable baffles on the collecting 13 electrodes, said baflies being each connected to a carrier frame which'is above and independent of the collecting electrodes, and being movable with said carrier.

7. In an electrical precipitator, the combination with a collector electrodes and a discharge electrode, of'a pair of parallel baflles on said collector electrode and symmetrically arranged with respect to said discharge electrode, said bafiies projecting from said collector electrode to such distance that they define a quiet zone of greater'depth than that to which material will build upon the collector electrode before falling of its own weight, and means supporting one of said .baffies for movement over the face of said collector electrode to remove adherent precipitated ma-.

terial therefrom. I

8. In an electrical precipitator, the combination with a pair of parallel imperforate collector electrodes, a series of discharge electrodes between said collector electrodes, and

a series of baflleson the respective collector electrodes defining quiet zones'opposite the several discharge electrodes, the baffles projecting to such distance from the collector electrodes that the quiet zones are of greater depth than that to which materialcanbuild up therein before falling of its own wei ht, of

-.means supporting certain-of said ba es for.

movement to permit scrapingof said collector fies in each passageway being movably carried in spaced relationship with each other.

14. In ,an electrical precipitator, the combination with a collecting electrode, of pockets of dead gas areas formed along the surface thereof by baflles projecting from said collecting electrode, and scraping means for removing the precipitated material adhering in said pockets.

15. In an electrical precipitator, the combination with a-collectlng electrode, of bafflesprojecting from said collecting electrode, to form pockets of dead gas areas along the surface thereof, and means for moving said baflies for removing the precipitated material adhering in said pockets.

In testimon whereof,-I aflix m si H RRY A. WINTE ature. TE.

electrodes to remove adherent precipitated I material.

9. In an electrical precipitator, the combination witha collectm electrode, of a plu-' rality of bafiles mounte adjacent to said 001- lecting electrode; forming zones of dead gas areas therebetween and meansfor moving said baflies over substantially the full 001- lecting area of said collecting'electrode to v tweena acent baflies.

remove re'cipitated material adhering be- 10. In an electrical preci itator the combination with'a collecting e ectrode, of baffles and means supporting said bafiies for movement over theopposite. surfaces of said collecting electrode.

- 11. In an electrlcal precipitatonjin com bination discharge electrodes, collectin' electrodes, bafllespositi'oned adjacent to t e -op.- posite surfaces of said 'c'o'llectin'g electrodes,j and means for moving said baflles for"clean= ing simultaneously the opposite surfaces of the collecting electrodes;

12. In an electrical precipitator, in .combmation discharge electrodes, collecting electrodes, baflles opposingly mounted ad acent to opposing collecting surfaces, and means for moving said bafiles for simultaneously cleaning opposing collecting surfaces; "3

13.- In an electrical precipitatorzincoma?. bination discharge electrodes, collecting elegy: trodes definin gas passageways, and a plu rality of move 1e baflies mounted against the surfaces of the collectingelcctrodes the baf- 

